“The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person”. How is this statement relevant to the disscusion of development? Discuss.
This statement highlights the crucial concept of sustainability of development. It emphasizes that resources should be used to fulfill genuine needs of all people rather than the greed of a few, which is central to the discussion of how development should be defined and pursued.
The context shows that the present type and levels of development are not sustainable. Scientists have been warning about this since the second half of the twentieth century. The example of groundwater in India illustrates this clearly — about 300 districts have reported a water level decline of over 4 metres in 20 years, and nearly one-third of the country is overusing groundwater reserves. If this continues, 60 per cent of the country would be doing the same in another 25 years.
The statement connects to the idea that different persons could have different as well as conflicting notions of development. When development benefits only a small group rather than a large number of people, it reflects greed rather than need. The question we must ask is whether there is a better way of doing things.
Most importantly, the statement aligns with the principle that "We have not inherited the world from our forefathers — we have borrowed it from our children." This means we must preserve resources for future generations. Development cannot be sustained if we exhaust resources to satisfy greed.
Thus, sustainable development requires balancing present needs with the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, ensuring resources are shared equitably rather than exploited by a few.
Explanation
This question appears in the NCERT textbook under the section 'Sustainability of Development'. The statement by Mahatma Gandhi is used to introduce the concept that development must be sustainable and equitable. The textbook uses the groundwater example to show how overexploitation of resources for short-term gains (greed) threatens the needs of present and future generations. The key teaching point is that development should benefit the maximum number of people and must not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the core concept — sustainability of development and equitable resource distribution
Step 2: Link the statement to the warning that present development levels are not sustainable
Step 3: Use the groundwater example to illustrate overuse driven by greed vs. need
Step 4: Connect to the principle of intergenerational equity — borrowing from our children
Step 5: Conclude with the need for development to benefit a large number of people, not just a small group